In the glass
What it pairs with
-
Roast milk-fed lamb
The wine's concentration and firm tannins find a match in tender slow-roasted lamb. -
Aged Iberian ham
Mineral depth and intensity complement the complexity of cured Iberian pork. -
Truffle-dressed risotto
The wine's earthy mineral character pairs naturally with truffle.
How to serve L'Ermita
Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Roast milk-fed lamb, Aged Iberian ham, Truffle-dressed risotto. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
L'Ermita takes its name from a small hermitage chapel at the top of the vineyard in Bellmunt del Priorat. Álvaro Palacios acquired the plot in the early 1990s and first bottled it separately in 1993. The vineyard spans roughly one hectare of century-old Garnacha vines on near-vertical llicorella terraces.
- 1993 — First vintage of L'Ermita as a separate bottling
- 2000 — Designated as a Gran Vinya Classificada under the DOQ Priorat classification system
Facts
- Producer
- Álvaro Palacios
- Grapes
- Garnacha Tinta, Cabernet Sauvignon
- Classification
- DOQ Priorat
- Oak
- 16-18 months in new French oak barrels
- ABV
- 14.5%
- Price
- €400-900 at retail
- Drinking window
- 10-30 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1993
Frequently asked about L'Ermita
What does L'Ermita taste like?
Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a very long finish.
When should I drink L'Ermita?
Drink 10-30 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with L'Ermita?
Roast milk-fed lamb is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Aged Iberian ham and Truffle-dressed risotto. The wine's concentration and firm tannins find a match in tender slow-roasted lamb.
What grapes are in L'Ermita?
The blend is Garnacha Tinta, Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is classified as DOQ Priorat.